NEED WASHING??
>
> A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have
> been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of
> innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the
> top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time
> to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just
> inside the door of the Target.
>
> We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up
> their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the
> sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the
> world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came
> pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.
>
> The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were
> all caught in "Mom let's run through the rain," she said.
>
> "What?" Mom asked.
> "Lets run through the rain!" She repeated.
>
> "No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.
>
> This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's
> run through the rain,"
>
> "We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.
>
> "No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young
> girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.
>
> This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get
> wet?
>
> "Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer,
> you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through
> anything!"
>
> The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything
> but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few
> minutes.
>
> Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some
> would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore
> what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's
> life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom
> into faith.
>
> "Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD
> let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.
>
> Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they
> darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their
> shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they
> were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the
> way to their cars.
>
> And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet I needed washing.
>
> Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they
> can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one
> can ever take away your precious memories..So, don't forget to make time
> and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything
> there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.
>
> I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.
>
> They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to
> appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget
> them. Send this to the people you'll never forget and remember to also
> send it to the person who sent it to you. It's a short message to let
> them know that you'll never forget them.
>
> Take the time to live!!!
>
> Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you'll need each
> other -- and don't forget to run in the rain!
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